Peoria is a real city in Illinois, in the middle of the United States, and an important river port on the Illinois River. Barges and grain and factory work have long been part of its story; for many years it was also known as a big machinery town. Say it pee-OR-ee-ə.

Peoria皮奧里亞 in Illinois在伊利諾州 is a real city是一個真實的城市， in the middle of the United States位在美國中部， on the Illinois River在伊利諾河上 and an important river port也是一個重要的河港。 Barges and grain and factory work駁船、穀物和工廠工作 have long been part of its story長久以來都是它故事的一部分; for many years多年來 it was also known as a big machinery town它也以重要的機械城聞名。 Say it唸法是 pee-OR-ee-ə皮歐里啊。

Though actually, if you only meet the name in a joke, Americans may not be talking about the map at all. Old theatre people used to ask, ‘Will it play in Peoria?’ — meaning, will ordinary people in the middle of the country like this show, this product, this idea? So the city stands, a little unfairly, for ‘average America.’ The place itself is not a punchline; it is a working river city that happened to become a measuring stick.

Though actually不過, if you only meet the name in a joke如果你只在笑話裡聽到這個名字, Americans may not be talking about the map at all美國人可能根本不是在講地圖上的那個地方。 Old theatre people used to ask以前的劇場人常問, 'Will it play in Peoria?'「這齣戲在皮奧里亞演得下去嗎？」 meaning意思是, will ordinary people in the middle of the country like this show, this product, this idea住在美國中部的一般人會不會喜歡這齣戲、這個產品、這個點子？ So the city stands, a little unfairly, for 'average America.'所以這座城市就有點不公平地變成了「一般美國」的代表。 The place itself is not a punchline這地方本身並不是個笑柄; it is a working river city that happened to become a measuring stick它是一座剛好變成衡量標準的河港工業城。